9th-FG, $43,000, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($50,000), 1-20, 3yo, 1m 70y, 1:43.05, ft.
RETIREMENT FUND (c, 3, Eskendereya–Northern Station {SW, $181,680}, by Street Cry {Ire}) stretched clear of his rivals to record a 7 1/4-length debut success over track and trip Dec. 22 to become a 'TDN Rising Star' and was sent off at 80 cents on the dollar to negotiate this next step. Quickest into stride for Shaun Bridgmohan, the $100,000 FTSAUG yearling purchase set a pressured pace as Dark Templar (Tapit), the only other of the six rivals in the market, enjoyed the run of the race. Retirement Fund shrugged off his pace pressure approaching the stretch, opened a daylight advantage into the final furlong and plugged home a two-length winner. Dark Templar raced erratically in the final eighth of a mile, but was a clear second. A half-brother to Barbados (Speightstown), GSW, $377,241, Retirement Fund is out of a stakes-winning dam who was bought back on a bid of $435,000 when offered in foal to Uncle Mo at FTKNOV in 2016. Northern Station produced a filly by the Coolmore stallion in 2017. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $50,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-L and N Racing LLC; B-Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.
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